L1 Life Def & Cell Structure

[T1] What are the 7 distinguishing features of life?

All living organisms: (1) are composed of one or more living cells, (2) possess DNA, (3) can grow and develop, (4) can reproduce sexually and/or asexually, (5) can sense and react to changes in the environment, (6) have a metabolism that converts food energy or solar energy into ATP, and (7) can maintain internal homeostasis.

[T1] What is the basic unit of life?

The cell.

[T1] What is the first distinguishing feature of life?

All living organisms are composed of one or more living cells.

[T1] What molecule containing genetic instructions is possessed by all living organisms?

DNA.

[T1] What is the second distinguishing feature of life?

All living organisms possess DNA that carries genetic instructions.

[T1] What is the third distinguishing feature of life?

Living organisms can grow and develop.

[T1] What is the fourth distinguishing feature of life?

Living organisms can reproduce.

[T1] What two forms of reproduction are mentioned in Lecture 1?

Sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction.

[T1] Does an organism have to reproduce sexually to satisfy the reproduction characteristic of life?

No. Living organisms can reproduce sexually and/or asexually.

[T1] What is the fifth distinguishing feature of life?

Living organisms can sense and react to changes in the environment.

[T1] What is the sixth distinguishing feature of life?

Living organisms have a metabolism that converts food energy or solar energy into ATP.

[T1] What is metabolism?

The sum of all the chemical reactions within a body.

[T1] What two energy sources are specifically mentioned as being converted through metabolism?

Food energy and solar energy.

[T1] What molecule is described as the universal energy currency of a cell?

ATP.

[T1] What is the relationship between metabolism and ATP?

Metabolism converts food energy or solar energy into ATP, the universal energy currency of a cell.

[T1] What is the seventh distinguishing feature of life?

Living organisms are able to maintain internal homeostasis.

[T1] What is homeostasis?

The maintenance of internal conditions at relatively constant levels.

[T1] What example of an internal condition maintained by homeostasis is given in lecture?

pH levels.

[T1] If an organism maintains its internal pH at a relatively constant level, which characteristic of life is this demonstrating?

Homeostasis.

[T1] If an organism detects a change in its environment and alters its behaviour in response, which characteristic of life is this demonstrating?

The ability to sense and react to changes in the environment.

[T1] If an organism converts food energy into ATP, which characteristic of life is this demonstrating?

Metabolism.

[T1] If an organism increases in size and undergoes developmental changes, which characteristic of life is this demonstrating?

Growth and development.

[T1] If an organism produces offspring without mating, does it satisfy the reproduction characteristic of life?

Yes. Reproduction can be sexual and/or asexual.

[T1] If an entity contains DNA, which characteristic of life does this support?

Living organisms possess DNA that carries genetic instructions.

[T1] If an entity consists of a single living cell, can it satisfy the cellular characteristic of life?

Yes. Living organisms may consist of one or more living cells.

[T1] Must a living organism be multicellular?

No. Living organisms can consist of one or more cells.

[T1] According to the learning objective, what should you be able to do with the characteristics of life besides list them?

Argue whether an entity is alive or not based on those characteristics.

[T1] If asked whether an unfamiliar entity is alive, what framework should you use?

Evaluate it using the distinguishing characteristics of life.

[T1] How many distinguishing features of life are presented in the lecture?

Seven.

[T1] According to the stated learning objective, how many properties of life should you be able to identify or list?

At least six.

[T1] What are cells?

The smallest building blocks of life.

[T1] What relationship exists between cells and life?

Cells are the smallest building blocks of life and the basic unit of life.

[F1] What does unicellular mean?

Composed of a single cell.

[F1] What does multicellular mean?

Composed of multiple cells.

[F1] Are most species described in the lecture as unicellular or multicellular?

Most species are unicellular.

[F1] What major groups/examples are given as unicellular?

Bacteria, archaea, protozoans, and yeast.

[F1] Are bacteria unicellular according to the lecture?

Yes.

[F1] Are archaea unicellular according to the lecture?

Yes.

[F1] Are protozoans described as unicellular in the lecture?

Yes; the slide describes them as one-celled animals.

[F1] Is yeast unicellular according to the lecture?

Yes.

[F1] What specific unicellular organisms are pictured/named in Lecture 1?

Paramecium, Euglena, Chlamydomonas, and yeast, along with bacteria.

[F1] Can a single cell constitute an entire living organism?

Yes; unicellular organisms consist of one cell.

[T1] What 4 structural features are shared by all cells?

Cell membrane (plasma membrane), cytoplasm, ribosomes, and DNA.

[T1] Do both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells possess the four basic structural features of cells?

Yes.

[T1] What is another name for the cell membrane?

Plasma membrane.

[T1] What is the cell membrane/plasma membrane?

A semipermeable membrane that encloses the cell and acts as a barrier between the cell's internal and external environment.

[T1] What structure encloses the cell?

The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane.

[T1] What structure forms the barrier between a cell's internal and external environment?

The cell membrane/plasma membrane.

[T1] What is cytoplasm?

The liquid component of a cell plus the floaty bits, such as organelles.

[T1] What analogy is used in lecture for cytoplasm?

Bubble tea.

[T1] In the bubble-tea analogy for cytoplasm, what does cytoplasm include?

The liquid component plus the floaty bits, such as organelles.

[T1] Are organelles included within the lecture's description of cytoplasm?

Yes. Cytoplasm is described as the liquid component plus floaty bits such as organelles.

[T1] What are ribosomes?

Tiny structures that carry out protein synthesis.

[T1] What cellular process do ribosomes carry out?

Protein synthesis.

[T1] Why is protein synthesis described as important in the ribosome definition?

It is a vital component of cell division and repair.

[T1] What structures are involved in protein synthesis?

Ribosomes.

[T1] What is DNA?

A molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development and functioning of a cell.

[T1] What does DNA carry?

Genetic instructions for the development and functioning of a cell.

[T1] Which of the four universal cellular features carries genetic instructions?

DNA.

[T1] Which of the four universal cellular features carries out protein synthesis?

Ribosomes.

[T1] Which of the four universal cellular features separates the internal environment from the external environment?

The cell membrane/plasma membrane.

[T1] Which of the four universal cellular features consists of the cell's liquid component plus its floaty bits?

Cytoplasm.

[T1] Are mitochondria one of the four structural features shared by all cells?

No.

[T1] Is a nucleus one of the four structural features shared by all cells?

No.

[T1] Are chloroplasts one of the four structural features shared by all cells?

No.

[T1] Are ribosomes one of the four structural features shared by all cells?

Yes.

[T1] Is DNA one of the four structural features shared by all cells?

Yes.

[T1] Is cytoplasm one of the four structural features shared by all cells?

Yes.

[T1] Is a cell membrane one of the four structural features shared by all cells?

Yes.

[T1] A cell lacks mitochondria. Does that fact alone mean it is not a cell?

No. Mitochondria are not one of the four structural features shared by all cells.

[T1] A structure lacks ribosomes. Does it possess all four defining structural features of a cell?

No. Ribosomes are one of the four structures shared by all cells.

[T1] A structure possesses DNA, ribosomes, cytoplasm, and a plasma membrane. Does it possess the four structural features shared by cells?

Yes.

[IT1] Identify the labelled outer boundary of the cell.

Plasma membrane / cell membrane.

[IT1] Identify the labelled structures responsible for protein synthesis.

Ribosomes.

[IT1] Identify the labelled molecule carrying genetic instructions.

DNA.

[IT1] On a general cell diagram, what region would constitute the cytoplasm?

The liquid component of the cell plus the structures/floaty bits within it.

[IT1] Looking at a cell diagram, name the four structural features that every cell must possess.

Cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and DNA.

[F1] Into what two main categories/groups are cells divided?

Prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.

[F1] What does prokaryote mean according to the lecture?

Before kernel, or before nucleus.

[F1] What does eukaryote mean according to the lecture?

True kernel, or true nucleus.

[F1] What characteristics are shared by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

They share the distinguishing characteristics of life and the four structural features of cells.

[F1] Do prokaryotes possess the distinguishing characteristics of life?

Yes.

[F1] Do eukaryotes possess the distinguishing characteristics of life?

Yes.

[F1] Do prokaryotes possess a cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and DNA?

Yes.

[F1] Do eukaryotes possess a cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and DNA?

Yes.

[F1] What are the 3 major differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells presented in lecture?

Nucleus presence, chromosome form/number, and presence of membrane-bound organelles.

[F1] Do prokaryotic cells have a nucleus?

No.

[F1] Do eukaryotic cells have a nucleus?

Yes. The nucleus contains DNA.

[F1] Where is DNA located with respect to a nucleus in prokaryotes?

Prokaryotes have no nucleus.

[F1] Where is DNA located with respect to a nucleus in eukaryotes?

Eukaryotes have a nucleus that contains DNA.

[F1] What type of chromosome is described for prokaryotes?

A single circular chromosome.

[F1] How many chromosomes are described for a prokaryotic cell in this lecture?

A single chromosome.

[F1] What shape is the chromosome of a prokaryote described as?

Circular.

[F1] What type of chromosomes are described for eukaryotes?

Linear chromosomes.

[F1] Do eukaryotes have one chromosome or more than one according to the lecture?

More than one.

[F1] Do prokaryotes have membrane-bound organelles?

No.

[F1] Do eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles?

Yes.

[F1] What membrane-bound organelle is given as an example in eukaryotes?

Mitochondria.

[F1] A cell has no nucleus, a single circular chromosome, and no membrane-bound organelles. Is it prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Prokaryotic.

[F1] A cell has a nucleus, several linear chromosomes, and membrane-bound organelles. Is it prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Eukaryotic.